PHOTO: Paramount Chief Levi Tawily
FISHTOWN, Liberia- A Judge in the in southeastern River Gee County has taken a tough action to deter local leaders from interfering in judicial matters, as Garmah Never Lomo reports.
The Assigned Circuit Court Judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit Courtin the County’s capital, Fishtown, Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh has jailed the Paramount Chief for Netuajah Chiefdom, Toubo Administrative District for interfering with the administration of justice.
Chief Wesseh is said to be investigating and letting go a Statutory rape suspect, who was reported to the Toubo Magisterial Court on allegation of Statutory rape.
Under Liberian law, the Crime of Statutory Rape is beyond the trial jurisdiction of Magisterial Courts, but Magistrates may issue writs and forward an accused to the Circuit Court for Trial.
it was reported that when this case was reported to the Magistrate, His Hon, John Slopaw, the magistrate attempted to issue a writ of arrest on the accuse but the paramount Chief, Mr. Levi Tarwily prevented the court for take siege of the matter and then extracted statements from the victim (name withheld, since the case is still sub judice); the victim, age 12 and his parents at his paramount Chief Compound in Toubo Sweaken and then made the accuse to flee the area.
However, not been satisfied with the action of the Paramount Chief for investigating a criminal case that was brought before the Magistrate, the magistrate, His Honor Slopaw complained to the Circuit Judge, His Honor Wesseh, who wasted no time by inviting Mr. Tarwily along with the County Superintendent, Hon. Philip Q. Nyenuh and the Head of the Traditional Counsel of Chief of River Gee Chief James Pah Sayee to a conference. The paramount then openly admitted of investigating the suspect and extracting statements from him and the victim, and her parents.
During the Conference, the Court’s appointed amicus curiae, the County Attorney for River Gee, Atty. Fofie Kamara and the County’s Defense Lawyer, Atty. Amos Nyenator and the County Inspector, Paul C. Brook admitted to the wrong of the paramount Chief for interfering in criminal matters.
But beg the court to tender justice with mercy.
However, after the conference there and then, His Honor Wesseh held the paramount Chief in contempt of Court by noting the paramount Chief constant habits of investigating Criminal matters as the Magistrate complained.
The Court therefore, said in order to protect the constitutional mandate of the Judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers, the paramount was held in Contempt of court and them ordered his detention him for 30 days at the Fish Town Central Prison to serve as a deterrent.
The County Superintendent Philip Q. Nyenuh who later entered the court after the contempt proceedings praised the court for protecting the image of the court and the doctrine of separation of powers and then warned all local government officials to stop interfering in criminal matters to be mindful of how they execute their responsibilities in their various chiefdoms.